Stats n’ Chats

I love writing. I spend a lot of my private time thinking, reading and discussing with others what I’m posting on my blog that week. But something happens for many bloggers that I find really interesting; people read, but don’t engage…

I can see my stats go up as people read and engage with the posts. I can see the countries where people have taken the time to read my blog. I also meet people who I don’t know who are regular readers of this blog. It’s always a joy to meet such people.

Being a writer is not about statistics and being seen. Being a writer for me is more about sharing life and biblical application. I enjoy taking the time to think about content that will both comfort and challenge the Christian.

But a few years back I considered throwing in the towel. I’d spend a long time thinking about what to write and I tried my best to be faithful. But with little engagement back then. I realised that people like to read articles that are controversial. I know the articles that could get me more viewers and maybe even create a bit of a name for myself. I purposefully chose not to write those.

The thing I find interesting, and it’s not just me, is that people like to read blog posts but not necessarily engage that much. For example, I often have people read my stuff and then message me privately to say that it was helpful but they don’t like or share it. But from my experience and in chatting with others, most readers read and move on. That can be quite hard for bloggers.

Friends if you read a post that you agree with, don’t just read and move on. Like the post, encourage the writer and spur them on in their writing. It can be discouraging to see a good number of views on WordPress but minimal engagement on social media.

If we were to see Christians speaking about stuff in person that was helpful, we’d encourage them. So why not do the same with countless bloggers out there who are trying to point people to Jesus? Read and thank bloggers. Think how you can best encourage the writer. Engage with them on social media, affirm their thoughts or push back on them. Give them feedback and help them grow as writers. Help them see that their work is helpful and appreciated.

Dropping a like on a social media post won’t save the world, but it might give the writer the encouragement they need to keep on going

Blogging for most Christian writers is not about building a platform. It’s about creating a site that point people to Jesus in a helpful and engaging way. Read, engage and encourage.